Lee P. (copiousreader) reviewed on
In "Bald Lies," the first Metzger story in this compilation, Audrinna Rowe wants to save her beautiful cousin from a terrible fate. To do so, Audrinna needs to find a husband for her cousin--and she sets her sights on Lord Blanford. But Lord Blanford has other plans... This was my favorite story of the 3, and it was the sweetest. Lord Blanford's struggle with baldness was a charming focal point of the story, and you just had to love his hairpiece.
In "Last Valentine," faux widow Martine finds herself getting a Valentine every day of the week. She just KNOWS they're coming from her ex-lover, the man who abandoned her four years ago. But... was she right to assume they are coming from him? ...Then surprise, this story ended with a twist. Although the story is short, I enjoyed it so much, I had to read it twice
"In Love and Tenderness", newlywed Senta has just made a muck of her wedding night with Lord Maitland. But it's not her fault. She was frightened by a ghost, who, unfortunately, has lost his memory! Now Senta and Lord Maitland must reunite, and the "ghost" is there to help them. Also, Lord Maitland must solve the mystery of his brother's death. This is the longest story of the 3--it's more like a novella. By far, the ghost is the star of the story. It's not hard to figure out the identity of the ghost... but when you do, it's a riot! I liked this story, but it would have been even better had there been more of the ghost, less of the "mystery", and more interaction between Senta and Lord Maitland.
This compilation also includes a reissue by Margaret Evans Porter. I read "Road to Ruin" over a year ago, so I don't feel confident enough to review it at length. The book is about a man fleeing from a duel. On the road, he meets a pretty young lady--and they take part in a scandalous arrangement. "Road to Ruin" is a much darker counterpart to the three light-hearted Metzger stories, which makes me wonder why they were tacked together. If I recall, Porter's novel was good, but slow.
Overall, it's an interesting assortment--definitely worth looking into.
In "Last Valentine," faux widow Martine finds herself getting a Valentine every day of the week. She just KNOWS they're coming from her ex-lover, the man who abandoned her four years ago. But... was she right to assume they are coming from him? ...Then surprise, this story ended with a twist. Although the story is short, I enjoyed it so much, I had to read it twice
"In Love and Tenderness", newlywed Senta has just made a muck of her wedding night with Lord Maitland. But it's not her fault. She was frightened by a ghost, who, unfortunately, has lost his memory! Now Senta and Lord Maitland must reunite, and the "ghost" is there to help them. Also, Lord Maitland must solve the mystery of his brother's death. This is the longest story of the 3--it's more like a novella. By far, the ghost is the star of the story. It's not hard to figure out the identity of the ghost... but when you do, it's a riot! I liked this story, but it would have been even better had there been more of the ghost, less of the "mystery", and more interaction between Senta and Lord Maitland.
This compilation also includes a reissue by Margaret Evans Porter. I read "Road to Ruin" over a year ago, so I don't feel confident enough to review it at length. The book is about a man fleeing from a duel. On the road, he meets a pretty young lady--and they take part in a scandalous arrangement. "Road to Ruin" is a much darker counterpart to the three light-hearted Metzger stories, which makes me wonder why they were tacked together. If I recall, Porter's novel was good, but slow.
Overall, it's an interesting assortment--definitely worth looking into.
